AMPNEY CRUCIS PARISH COUNCIL
MINUTES OF THE PARISH COUNCIL HELD ON 10 NOVEMBER 2003,
IN THE VILLAGE HALL, AMPNEY CRUCIS.
Present: Councillors Peter Kelly, Gerald Gaden, David Vessey, Adrian Grazebrook and John Dear.
County Councillor Raymond Theodoulou (until 8.00pm)
District Councillor Edward Horsfall (from 8.10pm)
Presiding: Councillor Peter Kelly
Clerk: Mrs H Tonks
The meeting commenced at 7.15pm. There were 7 members of the public present.
1. Apologies for Absence
Councillors Sally Hebbs and Kim Hartshorne
2. Minutes of the Parish Council meeting held on 8 September 2003
Resolution 35/03 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the minutes, of the meeting held on 8 September 2003 be signed and adopted.
3. Matters arising from the Parish Council meeting held on 8 September 2003
None
4. Questions from the Public
Members of the public present at the meeting were concerned about planning application 3805/PATS. There were concerns that local residents had not had the opportunity to look at the plans, as they had not been notified by the County Council. The Chairman explained that this was the first time a planning application had been received from the County Council, and therefore the Parish Council were unfamiliar with the procedure. The public present were invited to inspect the Parish Council’s copy of the plans in the Main Hall and to meet back later in the evening.
5. Reports from County/District Councillors
In the absence of District Councillor Horsfall, County Councillor Theodoulou gave the following report:
· Education: projected pupil numbers show that a high percentage of primary schools in the County would not meet their target numbers in the next five years. Sixth form provision is currently being scrutinised, and secondary education will follow.
· Budget: there will be an underspend of £3.5 million at the end of this financial year. This will be carried forward for the completion of projects. It is anticipated that the County Council will increase Council Tax by 6% - 8% in 2004/05.
· Pension funds: there has been a proposal that Councillors should receive a pension from local Councils. This will be discussed at future County Council meetings. The Local Government Officers pension fund is currently underfunded by 30%. The County Council has been advised that measures can be taken to reduce this by changing the scheme although any change in the scheme will not happen before 2005/06.
· Libraries: The library service costs £8 million each year, and receives no central government funding. This is a statutory service, and the County Council is looking for ways of generating more visitors users
· Local District and County Councillors are starting a campaign to have the A417 downgraded to a ‘B’ road. This will have no impact on maintenance, but should reduce heavy lorries from using the route. Councillor Horsfall will contact the Parish Council about this in due course.
· Economic development plan: There is potential funding for up to £30 million, however, this is likely to be paid in smaller lump sums, and is likely to be concentrated in the areas deemed to be in need.
· The new cabinet system will be set up in CDC. Decisions made in cabinet will still have to be passed to full Council for voting.
Councillor Theodoulou left the meeting.
6. Financial matters
6.1 Current financial position
Resolution 36/03 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the financial statements as provided by the Responsible Financial were an accurate reflection of the Council’s financial position on 21 October, 2003
It was noted that £77.38 is left in the budget for grass cutting. The Council agreed that the amount tendered was £960 and this amount would not be exceeded.
Resolution 37/03 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that £500 is transferred from the current account to the imprest account
6.2 Agreement of payments
It was agreed to pay Don Underwood for his expenses in removing the rubbish and supplying equipment at the Burial Ground clear up.
Resolution 38/03 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved to pay expenses of £25.00 to Don Underwood.
Councillor Horsfall entered the meeting.
6.3 Draft budget/precept request for 2004/05
The following draft budget was discussed:
Staff costs: salary £2832 increase of 3%
expenses £ 120 increase of £20
Grass cutting: £1010 increase of 5%
Burial Ground maintenance £ 250 no change
Advertising £ 75 no change
Admin: GAPTC £ 90 increase of 5%
Village Hall Hire £ 80 no change
Insurance £ 680 increase of 10% on the amount paid in 2003/04
Misc. and postage £ 150 no change
Playground: £1500 new allocation
Other: Donations/grants £ 100 no change
There was some discussion about whether the playground allocation of £1500 should be allocated at this stage. The layout of the playground has yet to be confirmed, and therefore it was unlikely that it would require substantial expenditure during the next forthcoming year. It was agreed therefore that any expenditure required for the playground during the forthcoming financial year would be paid from the reserves.
The proposed budget will therefore total £5537. More information on grass cutting will be available in January after tenders have been received, and a final decision will be made at that time.
7. Planning matters
7.1 Decisions
256 CT 0111/C Ampney Knowle House Permits
257 CT 0111/B Ampney Knowle House Consents
258 CT 0607/G Firs Farmhouse Permits
259 CT 4170/E 1 Lake Cottages Permits
260 CT 7739/F Ampney Fields Consents
261 CT 7739/G Ampney Fields Permits
262 Contr 1487 Berkeley Cottage No objection
265 CT 4942/N 3 Dudley Farm Permits
267 Contr 1500 Convamore No objection
266 Contr 1495 The Malthouse No objection
268 Contr 1507 Thurston Cottage No objection
269 CT 1762/1/E A C C of E School Withdrawn
270 Contr 1504 Wych Elm No objection
230 CT 3296/F The Pleydells Permits
271 CT 3296/F Land at The Pleydells Approved
7.2 Outstanding applications
264 CT 3914/B Ampneyfield Farm No objections
272 CT 4942/P Dudley farm Cottages, 48 AC No objections
273 CT 3914/B Ampneyfield Farm (amended plans) Objection
274 CT 7739/H Ampneyfields No objection
275 3805/PATS Crucis Park Farm Objection
276 CT 8357 Dudley Farm House No objection
The Chairman invited members of the public to ask questions and offer opinions at this stage if they wished to discuss the proposed quarry at Crucis Park Farm. Once the discussion was closed, and Councillors were making their decision, no further comments would be allowed.
The following comments were made:
· There were concerns that the County Council had not contacted local residents to inform them of the proposal.
· Many comments made in the application were thought to be too vague
· The Parish Council should seek professional advice to oppose this application.
· The size of the quarry is quadruple the size of the original quarry.
· There was some discrepancy with when the quarry was last used.
· The depth of the water table is not known
· There is no record of how much stone was taken from the quarry when it was initially quarried.
· This is a major application next to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. (AONB)
· Noise will be an issue and this was not covered clearly in the application.
· The processing activity will also need considering.
· The Parish Council should be aware of the need for any stone quarried from this area.
· There was some confusion about who was the lead authority – the District or County Council. One letter of objection had already been sent to the District Council.
The Chairman closed the public discussion period, and Councillors discussed the application. The following points were made.
· The lead authority is the County Council. The District Council would forward any letters sent to the District Council to the County Council.
· The Clerk agreed to check whether the County Council had followed procedure, and whether the neighbouring residents would be consulted. *
· For the application to be proved, a proven need should be shown that there is a need for natural stone and slates. However the Parish Council is not qualified to assess this. The County Council should be aware of the supply and demand of stone and tiles, and would apply this policy (NE1) to the application.
· It is understood that the site will rely on mechanical extraction rather than blasting.
· There were concerns about the increase in traffic
· The site was last used at least 50 years ago, and was considerably smaller than the proposed site. Councillors were unsure whether this constituted ‘re-opening’ of the site, or whether it should be classed as a new development.
· Given the public concern about the proposal, some Councillors felt that as they represented the electorate, then the Council’s comments should reflect the public opinion.
· The Council had insufficient resources to have professional help.
· Should commercial viability be included in any comments the Council makes? The site is planned to run for 10 years and should be filled in afterwards. If the company is not viable, then the site could be left incomplete.
· Councillors discussed the effect of the application on the environment. Concerns would be noise, vehicle movement and visual impact.
Following discussion, the Council, by a majority of those present, agreed to object to the proposal on the following grounds:
· The Council are concerned that the overall need has not been adequately demonstrated.
· The quarry will be small and the Council are concerned as to its commercial viability particularly as its income will have to cover restoration of the site for five years after production.
· Noise, dust and visual impact.
· Overall, without clearer evidence of the extent of the need and that the quarry is the only way of fulfilling this need and that fulfilling the need can be done on a commercial basis, we support the local residents who are opposed to the application.
* After the meeting the Clerk confirmed with the County Council that neighbouring residents would be consulted when an environmental impact assessment is available. Residents would have 28 days after being contacted to comment.
.
7.3 Minor amendments
277 CT 4942/P Dudley Farm Cottages, 48 AC No objection
278 CT 6340/D Land at School Lane Objection
7.4 Tree works
None
7.5 Procedure for dealing with planning applications
To give this matter full consideration it was decided to postpone this discussion until the next meeting.
8. Burial Ground matters
8.1 Clear up day
Seventeen local residents attended the clear up day. Don Underwood disposed of all the rubbish collected. Councillors agreed to pay £25 to cover the costs of his petrol and other materials. (see paragraph 6.2)
9. Village Update
9.1 Village noticeboard
Councillor Gaden reported that Harold Stevens would be happy to make the notice board and wished to meet a Councillor at the Village Hall to discuss the requirements.
It was agreed that the Council would meet the costs of the materials.
Resolution 39/03 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved to meet the costs of materials for the new noticeboard.
9.2 Double white lines
The Clerk reported that the County Council had some difficulty with their road maintenance contractors and that the work would be completed as soon as possible.
10. Playground in the village
10.1 Parish Council playground bank account
This will be set up soon.
11. Parish Council representation on Ampney Crucis C of E School Governors
It was agreed that the Council did not wish to have representation on the school governors.
12. Correspondence received
12.1 Citizens Advice Bureau
Resolution 40/03 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the following items of expenditure be authorised as a S137 payment under the Local Government Act 1972, it being the opinion of the Council that the expenditure will be in the interests of all or part of the community: a donation of £50 to the Citizens Advice Bureau.
12.2 Parish Partnerships Highway maintenance work.
GCC highways have offered the Parish Council the opportunity to allocate work directly for a two-man gang for three days every 6 months. This will be for small jobs e.g.: potholes, small drainage problems, and small footpath repairs. The Council have no requests to make at present.
The Clerk agreed to contact the District Council to ask that the roads be swept to clear up leaves that are blocking the drains.
12.3 Gloucestershire Local Transport Plan
Noted.
12.4 Junior Citizenship
The Council agreed that if children from the school had attended the Junior Citizenship course, then the Council should make a donation. The Clerk agreed to contact the school. **
Resolution 41/03 The Chairman proposed and the Council resolved that the following items of expenditure be authorised as a S137 payment under the Local Government Act 1972, it being the opinion of the Council that the expenditure will be in the interests of all or part of the community: a donation of £25 to Junior Citizenship.
** The Clerk contacted the school after the meeting, and children from the school attended in the last school year and have been invited again for the current school year.
12.5 Footpath repairs
Halcrow have started works on the footpaths at the bottom of Hunts Hill.
12.6 GCC - Modifications to the revised waste plan.
Noted.
13. Matters outstanding
It was noted that the secretary of the Robert Pleydell Trust has resigned.
The Parish Council responded to the local plan, after discussions with a majority of Councillors.
14. Date, time and place of next meeting.
Monday 12 January, 2004, 7.15pm in the Village Hall. The Vice-Chairman, Councillor Grazebrook, will chair the meeting.
The meeting closed at 10.05pm.